DOD program secures defense contractor networks – for now

Since its launch in May a Defense Department trial program has been successfully defending some 20 defense contractors' networks and, thus, some of the nation's critical data. However, it is unclear what will happen to the program after mid-November.

An experimental Defense Department program devised to safeguard defense contractor networks will be continued through mid-November, and perhaps indefinitely, in an effort to shield the nation’s infrastructure and classified military data from cyber threats, reports ABC News.

To date, the program has defended against hundreds of cyberattacks aimed at some 20 key defense contractors, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn, who initiated the program in May, said in the article.

If the program is given the go ahead long term, DOD hopes to expand it to include additional defense contractors. The Homeland Security Department also is interested in using it.